Fittingly, the final of the last edition of the Caribbean T20 (due to be replaced by a franchise-based Caribbean Premier League) will be played by Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana, the two teams who have shared the title on the previous five occasions. They contested the 2006 final of the Stanford 20/20 (as the tournament was called in the first two years), with Guyana winning with a ball to spare. Guyana then regained the crown in 2010. T&T won the title for the first time in 2008 and have been the defending champions for the last two years.

Yet both teams have taken contrasting paths to success over the years. Guyana have always surprised the form sheet with cavalier displays, like the determined effort from Christopher Barnwell against Jamaica on Saturday in the play-off. In contrast, T&T have subdued their opponents convincingly through consistent performances.

T&T were the only team not to lose a single match during the preliminary round, which they topped with 21 points, to book a final berth about a week in advance. In contrast, Guyana had to sweat late into Saturday night. That only reveals their desperation right through, including two last-ball victories.

T&T have looked more assured on both the batting and bowling fronts, with more than one match-winner in their ranks. Darren Bravo has been the tournament's leading scorer, including three consecutive fifties, and has looked more dominant with every match. Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Kieron Pollard have played around him to consolidate later. Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree have posed many difficult questions to the opposition batsmen, bowling aggressive lines throughout to maintain the pressure built by the batsmen. For Guyana, barring Barnwell and Steven Jacobs, the rest have remained inconsistent.

A big factor that could give T&T an upper hand is the fact that they enter the final on the back of a four-day break. Expect them to be more fresh and agile. In comparison, the final will be Guyana's fifth straight match in six days but, having won their last three games, they may fancy momentum being on their side.

Form guide

(most recent first, completed matches only)

Guyana WWWLLTrinidad & Tobago WWWWW

In the spotlight

Darren Bravo might be the tournament's leading scorer but "young" Bravo, as he is popularly known, understands that he needs to show his spark in the biggest match, the final. He has spoken about the team management giving him the responsibility of playing until the end, so look out for him to play the finisher's role. Bravo failed to accomplish the same for West Indies during the one-day series in Bangladesh and would like to play a more dominant role during the forthcoming ODI series in Australia.

After Christopher Barnwell's match-winning innings in the play-off, he galloped to No. 2 on the run charts, behind Darren Bravo. Powerful wrists allied to smart thinking have allowed Barnwell to throw opposition plans into disarray at important moments and he can be expected to stand up to a stiff challenge once again on Sunday. Even with the ball in hand, Barnwell has shown good presence of mind: he has been accurate without feeding the batsman's strengths as he showed against Chris Gayle on Saturday.

Team news

Shivnarine Chanderpaul ran on to the field joyously to hug his team-mates after Guyana's spirited victory against Jamaica to make the final. Does that mean Chanderpaul, who had pulled a leg muscle and had to abort his batting in the victory against Windward Islands on Friday, is fit for Sunday's summit clash? If he is not Trevon Griffith, who shared a match-turning partnership with Barnwell should retain his spot.

Guyana's victory against Jamaica was the biggest successful chase in the history of Caribbean T20 in six editions.

T&T batsmen have scored five half-centuries, the most by any team.

Sunil Narine is the most economical bowler in the tournament with an economy rate of 3.85 (more than two overs).

Guyana have won the tournament twice and, coincidentally, both times they scraped past the finishing line with just one ball to spare.

Quotes

"We had a bad game in the earlier round against Trinidad & Tobago. Hopefully our bowlers will bowl in the right areas and restrict them to a right total. It is a big final."Christopher Barnwell, the Guyana allrounder, gets ready for one last match

"The boys have been working on specific areas of their game over the last few days and the time away from matches has allowed us the time to assess our game again and see what we need to enhance."T&T team manager, Omar Khan, says his team have used their time off well

Congrats T&T for the Win but its a shame that this wouldn't be the team to represent the Caribbean at the Champions League because the Indian's IPL money is better.

alarky
on January 20, 2013, 22:54 GMT

Once T/20 is accepted universally as proper cricket, I think that Chris Gayle is the greatest batsman the world has ever seen in the game so far! I am making this bold declaration because I think that what he has been doing "consistently" when he bats, no other batsman past or present could do it. Yes, I think that it is the most "incredible" thing that the world has ever seen in cricket: a single batsman constantly scoring 100s from his small share out of "only 120 balls" in an innings of a match. And, the way he does it is unbelievable! I am not sure if any of the four greatest test batsman of All Time: Bradman, Sobers, Viv Richards and Lara could have done it; but we know none of the present ones can! We know that 100 runs in test cricket and ODIs is no big deal - even Nos 10 and 11 even have been scoring them easily these days; but for a batsman to be chalking up so many 100s or close to a 100 so often in T/20 matches is much more than an act of genius.

Rally_Windies
on January 20, 2013, 21:31 GMT

@ alarky ....

i am 100% sure if Viv and Lara applied themselves to 20/20 cricket they would be better than Gayle ...

Gayle actually held the record for the fastest ODI 50 in a World Cup game ... for about two minutes ........
the very next over Lara Broke Gayle's record which Gayle just set the previous over ....

that is Proof enough for me that If Lara played 20/20 cricket WHILE Lara was at his peak....
He'd be better than Gayle ...

and still I think Viv would have been scoring 20/20 100's more frequently than Lara or Gayle ...

alarky
on January 20, 2013, 20:17 GMT

Once T/20 is accepted universally as proper cricket, I think that Chris Gayle is the greatest batsman the world has ever seen in the game so far! I am making this bold declaration because I think that what he has been doing "consistently" when he bats, no other batsman past or present could do it. Yes, I think that it is the most "incredible" thing that the world has ever seen in cricket: a single batsman constantly scoring 100s from his small share out of "only 120 balls" in an innings of a match. And, the way he does it is unbelievable! I am not sure if any of the four greatest test batsman of All Time: Bradman, Sobers, Viv Richards and Lara could have done it; but we know none of the present ones can! We know that 100 runs in test cricket and ODIs is ni bug deal - even Nos 10 and 11 even makes them easily these days; but for a batsman to be chalking up 100 or close to a 100 so often in T/20 matches is much more than an act of genius.

BRUTALANALYST
on January 20, 2013, 19:59 GMT

Going for a Guyana upset ! hopefully Barnwell can go big again if so I'm sure IPL and International cricket will be calling again

Balb
on January 20, 2013, 12:17 GMT

A rather thrilling or the most exciting match of the entire tournament so far. Gayle's expected blast was just not enough. Guyana showed guts and grit. It will be a very good final to watch if Guyana can maintain line and length. Still not sure why Deonarine did not bowl in the last two games. The runs could have been less in terms of target. Very good concentration shown by Barnwell and tidy support from Griffith and Deonarine. A repeat of this kind of stay and support while moving the score can very well see Guyana bringing home the Bacon. Sarwan may be the key to handle Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree in this final

on January 21, 2013, 2:49 GMT

Congrats T&T for the Win but its a shame that this wouldn't be the team to represent the Caribbean at the Champions League because the Indian's IPL money is better.

alarky
on January 20, 2013, 22:54 GMT

Once T/20 is accepted universally as proper cricket, I think that Chris Gayle is the greatest batsman the world has ever seen in the game so far! I am making this bold declaration because I think that what he has been doing "consistently" when he bats, no other batsman past or present could do it. Yes, I think that it is the most "incredible" thing that the world has ever seen in cricket: a single batsman constantly scoring 100s from his small share out of "only 120 balls" in an innings of a match. And, the way he does it is unbelievable! I am not sure if any of the four greatest test batsman of All Time: Bradman, Sobers, Viv Richards and Lara could have done it; but we know none of the present ones can! We know that 100 runs in test cricket and ODIs is no big deal - even Nos 10 and 11 even have been scoring them easily these days; but for a batsman to be chalking up so many 100s or close to a 100 so often in T/20 matches is much more than an act of genius.

Rally_Windies
on January 20, 2013, 21:31 GMT

@ alarky ....

i am 100% sure if Viv and Lara applied themselves to 20/20 cricket they would be better than Gayle ...

Gayle actually held the record for the fastest ODI 50 in a World Cup game ... for about two minutes ........
the very next over Lara Broke Gayle's record which Gayle just set the previous over ....

that is Proof enough for me that If Lara played 20/20 cricket WHILE Lara was at his peak....
He'd be better than Gayle ...

and still I think Viv would have been scoring 20/20 100's more frequently than Lara or Gayle ...

alarky
on January 20, 2013, 20:17 GMT

Once T/20 is accepted universally as proper cricket, I think that Chris Gayle is the greatest batsman the world has ever seen in the game so far! I am making this bold declaration because I think that what he has been doing "consistently" when he bats, no other batsman past or present could do it. Yes, I think that it is the most "incredible" thing that the world has ever seen in cricket: a single batsman constantly scoring 100s from his small share out of "only 120 balls" in an innings of a match. And, the way he does it is unbelievable! I am not sure if any of the four greatest test batsman of All Time: Bradman, Sobers, Viv Richards and Lara could have done it; but we know none of the present ones can! We know that 100 runs in test cricket and ODIs is ni bug deal - even Nos 10 and 11 even makes them easily these days; but for a batsman to be chalking up 100 or close to a 100 so often in T/20 matches is much more than an act of genius.

BRUTALANALYST
on January 20, 2013, 19:59 GMT

Going for a Guyana upset ! hopefully Barnwell can go big again if so I'm sure IPL and International cricket will be calling again

Balb
on January 20, 2013, 12:17 GMT

A rather thrilling or the most exciting match of the entire tournament so far. Gayle's expected blast was just not enough. Guyana showed guts and grit. It will be a very good final to watch if Guyana can maintain line and length. Still not sure why Deonarine did not bowl in the last two games. The runs could have been less in terms of target. Very good concentration shown by Barnwell and tidy support from Griffith and Deonarine. A repeat of this kind of stay and support while moving the score can very well see Guyana bringing home the Bacon. Sarwan may be the key to handle Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree in this final

No featured comments at the moment.

Balb
on January 20, 2013, 12:17 GMT

A rather thrilling or the most exciting match of the entire tournament so far. Gayle's expected blast was just not enough. Guyana showed guts and grit. It will be a very good final to watch if Guyana can maintain line and length. Still not sure why Deonarine did not bowl in the last two games. The runs could have been less in terms of target. Very good concentration shown by Barnwell and tidy support from Griffith and Deonarine. A repeat of this kind of stay and support while moving the score can very well see Guyana bringing home the Bacon. Sarwan may be the key to handle Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree in this final

BRUTALANALYST
on January 20, 2013, 19:59 GMT

Going for a Guyana upset ! hopefully Barnwell can go big again if so I'm sure IPL and International cricket will be calling again

alarky
on January 20, 2013, 20:17 GMT

Once T/20 is accepted universally as proper cricket, I think that Chris Gayle is the greatest batsman the world has ever seen in the game so far! I am making this bold declaration because I think that what he has been doing "consistently" when he bats, no other batsman past or present could do it. Yes, I think that it is the most "incredible" thing that the world has ever seen in cricket: a single batsman constantly scoring 100s from his small share out of "only 120 balls" in an innings of a match. And, the way he does it is unbelievable! I am not sure if any of the four greatest test batsman of All Time: Bradman, Sobers, Viv Richards and Lara could have done it; but we know none of the present ones can! We know that 100 runs in test cricket and ODIs is ni bug deal - even Nos 10 and 11 even makes them easily these days; but for a batsman to be chalking up 100 or close to a 100 so often in T/20 matches is much more than an act of genius.

Rally_Windies
on January 20, 2013, 21:31 GMT

@ alarky ....

i am 100% sure if Viv and Lara applied themselves to 20/20 cricket they would be better than Gayle ...

Gayle actually held the record for the fastest ODI 50 in a World Cup game ... for about two minutes ........
the very next over Lara Broke Gayle's record which Gayle just set the previous over ....

that is Proof enough for me that If Lara played 20/20 cricket WHILE Lara was at his peak....
He'd be better than Gayle ...

and still I think Viv would have been scoring 20/20 100's more frequently than Lara or Gayle ...

alarky
on January 20, 2013, 22:54 GMT

Once T/20 is accepted universally as proper cricket, I think that Chris Gayle is the greatest batsman the world has ever seen in the game so far! I am making this bold declaration because I think that what he has been doing "consistently" when he bats, no other batsman past or present could do it. Yes, I think that it is the most "incredible" thing that the world has ever seen in cricket: a single batsman constantly scoring 100s from his small share out of "only 120 balls" in an innings of a match. And, the way he does it is unbelievable! I am not sure if any of the four greatest test batsman of All Time: Bradman, Sobers, Viv Richards and Lara could have done it; but we know none of the present ones can! We know that 100 runs in test cricket and ODIs is no big deal - even Nos 10 and 11 even have been scoring them easily these days; but for a batsman to be chalking up so many 100s or close to a 100 so often in T/20 matches is much more than an act of genius.

on January 21, 2013, 2:49 GMT

Congrats T&T for the Win but its a shame that this wouldn't be the team to represent the Caribbean at the Champions League because the Indian's IPL money is better.